Troubleshooting

QR code won't scan? Check these nine things.

Most scanning failures come from the artwork or print, not the destination. Work through the checks in order and test after each change.

Try another camera

Use the normal camera app on two recent phones. Clean the lens and hold still long enough for autofocus.

A camera cannot focus if the code is too close, and cannot resolve the modules if it is too far away.

Start around 2 cm or 0.8 in for close-range print and increase it for longer distances or dense codes.

Keep at least four empty modules around every edge. Text, borders and images must not touch the pattern.

Use a dark foreground on a light, plain background. Avoid transparent backgrounds and similar colours.

Glossy lamination, screens, curved bottles and windows can reflect light across the finder squares.

All three large corner squares and the clear border must be present. A clipped edge can make the code unreadable.

Messaging apps and design tools can resize or compress a QR. Export again and place the original SVG or high-resolution PNG.

Folds, seams, scratches and strong texture can break the grid. Move the code to a flatter, cleaner area.

That is a link or redirect problem, not a scanning problem. Read the encoded address and test it directly in a browser.

Calculate a safer starting size, then test the actual material at the expected distance and lighting.